Re: common selves

From: joedees@bellsouth.net
Date: Fri 01 Nov 2002 - 18:04:28 GMT

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    >
    > On Friday, November 1, 2002, at 06:25 , joedees@bellsouth.net wrote:
    >
    > > a common thought-basis
    > > for instances of similar actions?
    >
    > The bemetic model assumes a similar common thought-basis (brain
    > activity) for things like spider webs, language acquisition, artistic
    > creation, etc. Where we catalog and define these processes might,
    > perhaps, find things like meme-ories. It also assumes all the
    > commonalities of speciation. In short, it assumes all that is here to
    > see about the human being as a member of the life of this planet, if
    > not this universe.
    >
    > It also assumes the complex homo sapien brain to house a
    > self-referential emergent process. And, maybe we'll find the closet
    > that's in, too. No tellin'.
    >
    And this is the differentiation that allows volition, individuality, creativity and innovation, without which there could not be memetic mutation or selection, but just the lockstep following of a common species template.
    >
    > But regardless, how important is the self to cultural continuity?
    >
    > I would say a self is adamantly required to be a participant in
    > culture, but, we still need at least two to tango.
    >
    > Are at least two selves, perhaps, at the top of the list of things
    > that are really necessary for culture? You betcha. No self is a
    > cultural island.
    >
    > What came first, the self, or culture? Are the two in some way part of
    > the same process? (Could be. It's a substantial argument, I think if
    > not self-evident. But not if one claims birds have culture.)
    >
    I think that self and culture are co-primordial and coevolutionary. Each evolves the other, and has since way before the advent of created language, in fact, ever since a protosimian picked up an implement to extend his/her reach.
    >
    > - Wade
    >
    >
    > ===============================================================
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    >

    =============================================================== This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing) see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit

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